Ommen bids farewell to dedicated councillors with royal honours and tokens of appreciation
Ommen’s municipal council honored departing councillors and committee members for their service, including a royal honour for Gerard Hemmink. Residents can expect fresh leadership as the new council term begins, ensuring continuity in local democracy and governance.
| Name | Role | Years of Service | Honour/Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerard Hemmink | Councillor (LPO) | 12 years | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Erik Pieters | Councillor (VOV) | 2.5 years | Glass artwork |
| Gerrit Jan Ekkelkamp | Councillor (ChristenUnie) | Since 2021 | Glass artwork |
| Richard Smits | Councillor (VVD) | 7+ years | Glass artwork |
| Jacqueline Tuinbeek | Councillor (CDA) | 8 years | Glass artwork |
| Marleen Hemstede | Councillor (ChristenUnie) | 8 years | Glass artwork |
| Melchior Bauman | Councillor (LPO) | 8 years | Glass artwork |
| Tamar Boeve-Nusselder | Committee Member (LPO) | N/A | Tin figurine |
| Egbert Veldhuis | Committee Member (VVD) | N/A | Tin figurine |
| Erik Terpstra | Committee Member (VVD) | N/A | Tin figurine |
| Reinier Visser | Committee Member (ChristenUnie) | N/A | Tin figurine |
| Wim te Velthuis | Committee Member (CDA) | N/A | Tin figurine |
| Henri Mors | Committee Member (D66) | N/A | Tin figurine |
The Ommen municipal council is responsible for local governance, including policy-making, budget allocation, and representing residents' interests. Recognizing departing members highlights the council’s commitment to acknowledging contributions to local democracy and community development.
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Royal honours awarded to departing councillors and committee members in Ommen
In a special council meeting last night, the Ommen municipal council said farewell to seven councillors and six committee members. During the event, LPO councillor Gerard Hemmink was awarded a royal honour for his twelve years of service to the council. He was appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Gerard Hemmink is the longest-serving councillor among those departing following the municipal elections. He unexpectedly joined the council in 2006 after a significant election victory for the LPO. From 2010 to 2018, Hemmink was active in the shadow faction before running for office again. After the 2018 elections, he served two terms as a councillor. Mayor Hans Vroomen expressed the council’s appreciation for Hemmink’s significant contributions to Ommen’s community and local democracy on behalf of the council.
Departing councillors
In addition to Gerard Hemmink, six other councillors also left the council. Erik Pieters (VOV) is departing after just over two and a half years. Gerrit Jan Ekkelkamp (ChristenUnie) has been a councillor since December 2021. Several other councillors had been with the council for longer periods. Richard Smits (VVD), for example, served on the council for more than seven years. Jacqueline Tuinbeek (CDA), Marleen Hemstede (ChristenUnie) and Melchior Bauman (LPO) have each served two full terms since 2018. As a token of appreciation for their efforts, the departing councillors received a glass artwork by Jolanda Dantuma of Atelier Kleurrijk in Ommen.
Departing committee members
In addition to the councillors, the council also said goodbye to six committee members: Tamar Boeve-Nusselder (LPO), Egbert Veldhuis (VVD), Erik Terpstra (VVD), Reinier Visser (ChristenUnie), Wim te Velthuis (CDA) and Henri Mors (D66). Committee members play an important role in preparing council work. The departing members received a tin figurine of Saint Brigid of Kildare as a token of appreciation for their involvement and dedication.
Transition to a new council term
With this special council meeting, the municipal council officially closed the 2022–2026 council term. Tonight, the new councillors for the 2026–2030 term will be sworn in.